Stacking container

Abstract

A stackable container capable of being cross-stacked with other containers. The stackable container includes a plurality of sidewalls, a bottom wall, and an open top. The bottom wall is connected to respective top and bottom edges of the sidewalls. The top edges have alternating raised and lowered sections and the bottom edges have complementary alternating raised and lowered sections for securing the container in a stacked configuration with a second container, such that the bottom wall does not protrude into the interior of the second container.

1 . A stackable container, comprising a plurality of sidewalls having respective top and bottom edges, a bottom wall connected to the bottom edges of the sidewalls, and a top opening defined by the top edges, wherein at least one of the top edges has alternating raised and lowered sections and at least one of the bottom edges has complementary alternating raised and lowered sections for securing the container in a stacked configuration with a second container, such that the bottom wall does not protrude into the interior of the second container.  
   
   
       2 . The stackable container according to  claim 1 , wherein the top edge further includes an outwardly-projecting rim.  
   
   
       3 . The stackable container according to  claim 2 , wherein the raised and lowered sections of the top edge are defined by the rim.  
   
   
       4 . The stackable container according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom edge further includes an outwardly-projecting rib.  
   
   
       5 . The stackable container according to  claim 4 , wherein the raised and lowered sections of the bottom edge are defined by the rib.  
   
   
       6 . A stackable container according to  claim 1 , wherein the raised sections and lowered sections are spaced for allowing containers of various sizes to be cross-stacked.  
   
   
       7 . A stackable container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container has four sidewalls disposed in a rectangular relationship, and two of the opposed sidewalls each include two spaced-apart raised sections, the raised sections being positioned near the corners of the container.  
   
   
       8 . A stackable container according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall includes at least one bottom recess extending into the interior of the container for receiving the raised sections of the top edge of another container.  
   
   
       9 . A stackable container, comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of sidewalls having respective top and bottom edges, a bottom wall connected to the sidewalls, and a top opening defined by the top edges; and    (b) an outwardly-protruding rib disposed on the bottom edges and an outwardly-protruding rim disposed on the top edges for supporting a second container, wherein at least a portion of the rib and rim each have a plurality of complementary alternating raised and lowered sections for securing the container in a stacked configuration with the second container, such that the bottom wall does not protrude into the interior of the second container.    
   
   
       10 . A stackable container according to  claim 9 , wherein the raised sections and lowered sections are spaced for allowing containers of various sizes to be cross-stacked.  
   
   
       11 . A stackable container according to  claim 9 , wherein the container has four sidewalls disposed in a rectangular relationship, and two of the opposed sidewalls each include two spaced-apart raised sections, the raised sections being positioned near the corners of the container.  
   
   
       12 . A stackable container according to  claim 9 , wherein the bottom wall includes two bottom recesses extending into the interior of the container for receiving the raised sections of the top edge of another container.  
   
   
       13 . A stackable container, comprising a plurality of sidewalls having respective top and bottom edges, a bottom wall connected to the sidewalls, and a top opening defined by the top edges, wherein at least one of the top edges has a plurality of projections and at least one of the bottom edges has complementary recesses for securing the container in a stacked configuration with a second container.  
   
   
       14 . The stackable container according to  claim 13  further comprising a plurality of corner posts.  
   
   
       15 . The stackable container according to  claim 14 , wherein the recesses are disposed within the corner posts.  
   
   
       16 . A stackable container according to  claim 14 , wherein the bottom wall includes at least one bottom recess extending into the interior of the container for allowing smaller containers to be stacked with the container.